How many hours do you think a workweek should have? (And what's the answer from big companies)
The standard we've known since Henry Ford's time is 40 hours a week.
However, today I came across this article:
Google – 60 hours a week is what it demands from its engineers.
TikTok – sometimes demands in China to work more due to "996 work culture" (9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week)
I know it depends on the industry, but I can sometimes get something done in 5 hours and it's a better use of time than pretending for 3 hours that you do something.
Also, when I was at an advertising agency, a lot of my colleagues spent about 20% of their time having coffee or smoking. Sometimes it feels more like a certain number of hours are just socializing. 🤷♀️
Do you think that 40 hours/week is optimal or needs to be extended/reduced?
366 views
Replies
I think its better to work 4 days for 6 hours 🙂↕️
@ilia_productdesigner This is my goal, I enjoy working just not 40 hours a week haha
minimalist phone: creating folders
@ilia_productdesigner TBH, I work every day, but the time differs. Sometimes it is 3 hours. Sometimes 5. It works for me to get my job done when I am the most productive with a lot of energy.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@kamchatka That's not so much for me :D I need to work every day :D
EasyStaff Payroll
I think it depends on the type of work. 40 hours of meetings? Way too much. 40 hours of deep focus? Unrealistic. I think the number of hours should depend on the value created.
minimalist phone: creating folders
Interesting approach but I got you! :)
EasyStaff Payroll
I think it should be 32 hours/week
minimalist phone: creating folders
I would say that even less when someone can do more in less time. 😀
UpWrite AI: Proofreading Keyboard
There's no one-size-fits-all answer - it depends on the work, the product, and the individual. This isn't really a question for an entrepreneur; when you're building something exciting, you might work 70 hours a week and still feel energized. But if you're stuck doing something uninspiring, even a few hours of "work" can feel exhausting and unproductive. Quality and passion matter more than just counting hours.
Especially in high-tech companies like Google, a data-driven approach would make more sense. These days, performance can likely be measured by impact and results rather than just the number of hours spent at work.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@serge_neskoromny you are right. Tho working 70 hours/week is sometimes necessity to see first results.
Equip AI Interview
As 👏 long 👏 as 👏 one 👏 needs 👏 to 👏 get 👏 the 👏 job 👏 done
(and be happily satisfied of course)
minimalist phone: creating folders
@aishwaryalohi This is gold! I need this to print and hang over my bed! :D
I think the 40-hour workweek should be reduced. Productivity isn’t about hours logged—it’s about meaningful output. Many studies show that shorter workweeks can boost focus and efficiency while reducing burnout. For example, I often get more done in 5 focused hours than in 8 distracted ones. A 30-35 hour week could give people more balance and still maintain (or even improve) productivity. Quality over quantity!
minimalist phone: creating folders
@mewdoro In creative work, pretty fair. Would you stick to the same rewarding in terms of salaries?
@busmark_w_nika Absolutely, salaries should stay the same. At the end of the day, what matters is the result, not the hours spent. If someone can deliver the same (or better) output in fewer hours, why should they be paid less? Shorter workweeks can actually lead to higher quality work, more creativity, and less burnout—so it’s a win-win for both employees and employers.
I’d say a 4 days workweek with 3 days off is the better spot for productivity and efficiency. Longer breaks help with focus, creativity, and overall well-being, and studies (like Boston College, ScienceDaily) show people get just as much done in fewer hours.
We need time for real human connection with family, friends, and even ourselves. A balanced life helps better work.
(This may differ for each industry)
minimalist phone: creating folders
You are right. For me, is quite okay to work 7 days per week but shorter time :)
chatWise
Why there should be workweek in the first place?
Maybe that is the right question.
No offense to anybody, but in most of the industries, and Im including the ones I have been in in the past, 90% of the work is useless.
The goal of the 40 hour work week is not to get the best out of you for the least amount of money so they can maximize profit.
The goal is to drain your energy and give you just about enough so you never doubt the reason you work in the first place.
But we will go back to chicken and egg situation when everybody says the same answer to my statement...."but we have to eat"...
Have a great Saturday. Nice post Nika <3
minimalist phone: creating folders
@cryptosymposium TBH, I am so attached to work that I would feel without purpose to work a certain amount of time. I just need only flexibility. :) Have a nice weekend and thank you for your input :)
I think there should be 4 working days a week, so that you have time to recover on the weekends and be more productive on weekdays. And also the working day should be no more than 7 hours (1 hour to recover after lunch 😁), because towards the end of the day, especially in the last hour, productivity drops sharply.
I feel like I'm productive for around 4-6 hours max depending on the day (more 4 hour days than 6 tbh). However only working 4 hours means half a pay check so I have to keep myself busy for the other 8 even if I'm only half as effective.
Right now working 12-14 hour days though due to working on my own SaaS while still working my full time job
minimalist phone: creating folders
@alan_rivera Working on your own business is a different story. You need to sometimes "pay" extra time to see results. This question is more employee-oriented tho.